Zhen Ren Teo

London Business School

“Former national athlete and consultant, driven by a passion for community impact.”

Hometown: Singapore

Fun fact about yourself: I love learning random and mostly impractical skills like juggling, reciting digits of pi, or loud whistling. I enjoy the challenge of starting from scratch and the satisfaction of finally mastering something new.

Undergraduate School and Degree: UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business: BSc. Business Administration

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Consultant at Boston Consulting Group

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Investment Associate at Chiron Sports Group, London

Where will you be working after graduation? Boston Consulting Group

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

* President, London Business School Student Association (2024 – 25)

* Governor, London Business School (2024 – 25)

* Co-founder & President, Southeast Asia Club (2023 – 24)

* Head of MBAT Leadership Team, London Business School Student Association (2023 – 24)

* Head of Events, Sports Business Club (2023 – 24)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Prior to my MBA, I had never taken on a major leadership position. However, my transformative first year at LBS strengthened my confidence in my leadership abilities and fueled my passion for building a strong, connected community. One of my proudest achievements was founding and successfully leading the LBS Southeast Asia (SEA) Club during my first year.

The idea for the LBS SEA Club stemmed from a genuine desire to connect with my fellow Southeast Asian peers upon arriving on campus. Having worked extensively with ASEAN markets during my time at BCG, I understood the importance of fostering strong regional connections—not just socially, but also professionally, given ASEAN’s role as a key political and economic union in the global economy. What began as an initial gathering among a small group soon evolved into a fully established club, aiming to create deeper engagement beyond casual meetups. Within a year, we grew from a member base of 30 to a 250+ strong community, hosting cultural events and networking opportunities that connected SEA students and introduced our culture to the broader LBS community. Additionally, I initiated cross-school collaborations with the Oxford Saïd and Cambridge Judge MBA SEA Clubs, leading to joint events such as mixers and formal dinners. Today, I’m proud to see the SEA Club continue to thrive under new leadership, expanding its reach to include larger-scale SEA conferences that will benefit LBS students and alumni for years to come.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? As a consultant at Boston Consulting Group, I was involved in numerous challenging projects, but the one I am most proud of involved developing a branding and commercial strategy for Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski and his wife Anna Lewandowska. This incredibly special project was not only my favorite, but also represented a unique blend of strategy and innovation.

One of my key tasks was enhancing Robert’s global brand recognition. I led the initiative to connect Robert with a top talent agency, navigating the complexities of talent management and branding. My role involved pitching Robert’s potential as a premier brand ambassador and subsequently securing a partnership with Creative Artists Agency for his global representation. This achievement is particularly gratifying as it went beyond traditional consulting, leveraging my ability to innovate and execute strategically, ultimately securing a significant deal that boosted Robert’s commercial presence worldwide.

Why did you choose this business school? Choosing London Business School for my MBA was an intuitive decision driven by my desire to diversify my educational experiences beyond the United States, where I completed my undergraduate degree. LBS immediately stood out as the top European MBA program, not only because of its reputation but also due to its strategic location in the heart of London and Europe. Additionally, the bonus of being in the same city as my favorite football team, Arsenal, sealed the deal.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite professor at LBS was Gillian Ku, who taught the Negotiations & Bargaining course during my second year. She is a brilliant educator and a Professor of Organisational Behaviour, as well as the Chair of the Organisational Behaviour Faculty. Her research has been widely published in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Harvard Business Review.

What made her class stand out was her ability to make the art of negotiation both engaging and practical. She not only highlighted common pitfalls, but also infused the lessons with personal anecdotes that made the material more relatable. Her dynamic teaching style kept the class fully engaged, and she had an exceptional ability to address students’ questions with clarity and depth. I walked away from the course with a much stronger understanding of negotiation tactics that I know will serve me well in my career. While I may be slightly biased (she is also Singaporean!), her insights have certainly left a lasting impression.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? While I enjoyed many Organisational Behavior courses at LBS, my favorite course was quite different—Applications of AI & ML in Business, taught by Professor Lil Mohan. The course provided a deep dive into machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and generative AI (Gen-AI), covering both their fundamental concepts and real-world applications across industries. It helped us understand not just the technologies themselves, but also how to apply ML and Gen-AI techniques to various business scenarios.

Before taking this course, AI felt like an intimidating black box; to me it was something highly technical and difficult for a business student to grasp. I couldn’t comprehend how models like ChatGPT processed and generated content so quickly and accurately. However, this course broke down AI’s evolution and inner workings into digestible, practical concepts, giving me the confidence to engage with the technology rather than fear it. While I still can’t build a large language model (LLM) from scratch, I now feel comfortable discussing Gen-AI concepts and am eager to continue learning, especially as AI continues to evolve and shape our generation’s future.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? To be completely honest, I wouldn’t change a thing about my MBA experience. Cheesy, I know. Every choice I made and every experience I had led me to where I am now, and for that, I’m truly grateful. However, if forced to relive the MBA again, the one thing I might have done differently would have to be joining a few more overseas treks with my classmates.

While I feel incredibly fortunate to have traveled to many new countries over the past year, there were inevitable trade-offs. Balancing time and resources meant missing out on some trips, and naturally, FOMO kicked in when I heard about the incredible experiences my friends had. Although I made the most of my time in London, there’s something truly special about traveling with classmates. The connections built on those trips are unmatched. So, my advice to future MBA students (and a reminder to myself) is this: say yes to as many adventures as you can, because the memories and friendships formed along the way are worth it.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth about LBS is that MBA students aren’t as close-knit due to the school’s urban setting, lacking the campus culture of larger colleges. While the experience is different from traditional campus-based programs, the reality is that LBS fosters incredibly strong networks and friendships. Streams, student-led treks, and school events create meaningful opportunities to connect, while London itself becomes an extension of our campus. The city’s vibrant offerings provide countless shared experiences, enriching our time together and strengthening our bonds beyond the classroom.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? The fact that LBS is right by Regent’s Park! Its vast greenery and scenic beauty make it the perfect place to enjoy the London weather, rain or shine. Whether it’s post-class picnics, casual games, or a morning run, it’s my go-to spot to unwind and connect. It’s also where I’ve spent countless hours training for my first marathon, making it even more special to me.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I recently watched Darkest Hour, a British biographical war drama that portrays Winston Churchill’s leadership during the early days of World War II as Britain prepared for war with Germany. It’s a brilliant film, and while it’s centered on war, it offers powerful lessons in leadership that apply to business as well.

The movie highlights Churchill’s internal struggles and the immense pressure he faced, not just from external threats but also from his own cabinet, some of whom secretly plotted to remove him. Despite mounting doubts and opposition, he had the courage to stand by his convictions. In business, as in politics, leaders often face tough decisions and internal challenges behind the scenes. The key takeaway I learned is the importance of resilience: remaining committed in one’s vision, staying composed under pressure, and projecting confidence to inspire trust and stability, even in uncertain times.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? LBS has been actively integrating AI into its curriculum, becoming one of the first business schools to partner with OpenAI. Later this year, faculty and students will gain free access to ChatGPT and other AI-powered tools, further embedding AI into the learning experience. Additionally, the school has introduced several courses focused on AI and its business applications, preparing us to navigate the evolving challenges and opportunities of AI-driven industries.

Through this, I’ve learned that embracing AI is essential rather than resisting it out of fear of over-reliance. AI is poised to play a major role in corporate work, and the key is not to replace traditional skills but to enhance productivity and efficiency. Rather than clinging to outdated methods, it is important for us to develop the ability to work alongside AI, leveraging it as a tool to improve processes and drive innovation.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? This is one of the toughest questions to answer—there are so many incredible classmates to choose from. However, I would like to recognize Chris Town, who has been an inspiration to many of us, including myself. A former UK Royal Navy officer, Chris made a bold transition into the business world, securing a highly competitive internship at Bain & Company in his first year. Not only did he excel at Bain and convert his internship into a full-time offer, but he also did so while training for and completing an Ironman!

In his second year, Chris took on major leadership roles as President of the Cycling Club and the Military in Business Club, revitalizing the Cycling Club to make it more inclusive for all students, from beginners to experienced cyclists. Under his leadership, the treks organized by the Cycling Club has become one of the most sought-after experiences at LBS. Beyond his accomplishments, what truly sets Chris apart is his character. He is one of the kindest and most genuine people I know, always willing to help others. He has personally helped many classmates pick up cycling, and through his guidance and encouragement, he has even inspired me to sign up for my first-ever Ironman this coming July.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I find community work deeply meaningful and fulfilling, and my goal is to combine my passion for sports and community engagement to take on a significant leadership role in Singapore in the future. I want to drive initiatives that use sports as a platform to create social impact, fostering inclusivity, youth development, and national pride.

Additionally, I aspire to support my father and brother in growing our family business, helping to expand it into new areas and build a legacy for our future generations.

What made Zhen Ren such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“At LBS, I have the privilege of working with incredible students who make a meaningful impact on our community. One such student, Zhen Ren, in his role as Student Association President, has spearheaded remarkable initiatives that have significantly enhanced the student experience.

Three key contributions stand out as part of his leadership. First, he launched the Student Association Dubai Chapter, a dedicated subcommittee that has strengthened the sense of community and engagement for students at our Dubai campus. Second, he successfully organised the inaugural ‘Battle of the Streams’, a large-scale event bringing together over 800 students. This event not only fostered a spirit of friendly competition but also created opportunities for deeper connections across programmes, reinforcing collaboration within LBS. Lastly, he led LBS to victory at MBAT—the first in nine years. Known as the MBA Olympics, this prestigious event brings together top European business schools in a celebration of sportsmanship and teamwork. Beyond securing the win, Zhen Ren’s leadership in this competition embodied community spirit, unity, and LBS pride.

Being a responsible leader means making a positive impact on the communities we are part of—an ethos that lies at the heart of the LBS experience. Through his dedication, Zhen Ren has created a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit students now and in the years-to-come. He exemplifies the values of teamwork, inclusivity, and leadership that define our institution.”

Jane Charlton
Executive Director, Degree Programmes & Student Experience

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